Punch lock forming machine



Nov. 24, 1959 Y J. E. OTT 2,913,939

PUNCH LOCK FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 30 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 (\2 g% I IN VN TOR. Em John/i 1 b9277 0&2

J. E. O TT PUNCH LOCK FORMING MACHINE Nov. 24, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Filed Oct. 50, 1951' INVENTOR. Ike 772/0251;

Nov. 24, 1959 Filed Oct. 50. 1951 J. E. OTT 2,913,939 PUNCHLOCK FORMING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

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Nov. 24,1959 J. E. OTT v 2,913,939

' PUNCH LOCK FORMING MACHINE Filed 001;. 50 1951 7'Sheets-She et 4 IN V EN TOR.

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PUNCH LOCK FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 50 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 /bZ ZnEkQ? 052,

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Nov. 24, 1959 J. E. on

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PUNCH LOCK FORMING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 lSP N1 @N mvw NNW QNN Filed Oct. 30, 1951 INVENTOR. MOZZZ Jk n/l/cer v wan YM United States Patent Ofice 2,913,939 PUNCH LOCK FORMING MACHINE john Ekern Ott, Downers GrOveTownship, Du Page County, Ill., assignor to Acme Steel Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois This invention relates to improvements in what may be termed punch lock forming and shearing mechanism, that is, mechanism adapted to draw a metal band taut around an object such as two telescoping members which are to be secured together, with the band enclosed in a tubular metal seal, then to punch or otherwise deform the strap and seal to lock them together and finally to shear oif the strap adjacent the seal.

The invention may be used, for example, in securing a flexible hose to a metal coupling member such as those employed in connecting the pipe lines of railway cars which are coupled together. In that use of the invention, a length of metal strapping is formed into a coil, comprising one or more convolutions, with the convolutions engaging a tubular metal seal to which one end of the strap is secured. The coil of strap is then placed over the end of the hose into which the sleeve of the coupling is inserted, and the coupling and hose assembly with the surrounding strap are then gripped and held in position with the free end of the strap projecting from the seal. This free end of the strap is then automatically gripped and a holding dog moves into position to engage the seal and hold the strap assembly against rotation on the hose, whereupon the gripping device moves to draw the strap taut around the hose, a punch is automatically actuated to deform the strap and seal toform an interlocking joint while also cutting off the free end of the strap with the use of the seal as a shearing die. A strap coil and sealed joint of this type is disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,312,375, dated March 2, 1943.

The principal object of the invention is to provide simple mechanism capable of performing the above described functions quickly, efficiently and automatically with a minimum of attention on the part of the operator. A further object is to provide improved means for holding the assembly about which the strap is tobe applied. Another object is to provide novel mechanism for drawing the coil of strap taut and for holding it against rotation while tension is'applied thereto. Still another object is to provide novel means for shearing off the free end of the strap after the joint is formed, using the seal as a shearing die so that a new die is provided for each joint. Another object is to provide novel electrical and hydraulic systems for effecting the various functions of the punch lock forming mechanism in the desired sequence. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment is illustrated. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a machine embodying the punch lock forming mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

, 7 2,913,939 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 Fig. 3 shows apa'rtial transverse sectional View through a joint which is' formed between a metal seal and convolutions of metal strap extending around a flexible hose surrounding a metal pipe, the section being taken transverselyto the longitudinal axis of the sleeve;

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a top plan view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 with the parts thereof broken away;

Fig. 6 shows a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7. shows an enlargement of a portion of the view of Fig. 6 with parts of the mechanism illustrated in vertical section, the clamping, holding and gripping members being illustrated in their retracted positions;

Fig. 8 showsa sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 shows a partial view like that of Fig. 7 with the clamping, holding and gripping members in their operating positions and with the metal strap sheared oif adjacent the seal following the formation of theint erlocking joint between the strap and the seal;

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged vertical section through the joint illustrated in Fig. 9 and associated parts of the mechanism, illustrating the free end of the metal strap cut oif at the edge of the seal;

Fig. 11 shows a vertical section taken on the line 11--11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 shows a horizontal section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view ofthe strap and joint encircling the hose and the enclosed sleeve which are illustrated in transverse section at the edge of the strap, this view showing the relative positions of the parts after the strap has been drawn taut preliminary to the deformation of the strap and seal to provide an interlocking joint;

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of the completed joint formed by punching the seal and the enclosedstrap ends illustrated in Fig. 13, the hose and the sleeve being illustrated in transverse section as in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 shows a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system by which the gripping of the strap and the enclosed hose and sleeve, the tensioning of the strap, and the punching of the seal and strap are effected; and

Fig. 16 shows a somewhat schematic representation of the electric circuit by which the hydraulic system illustrated in Fig. 15 is controlled.

As illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the invention is shown as being embodied in a machine comprising a housing 20 having a base flange 20a which is adapted to be secured to a floor or other support. The housing 20 is of rectangular horizontal cross section and has an opening on one side which is normally closed by a door 21. The side of the housing 20 terminates at its top edge in inturned flanges 20b which have secured thereto the-horizontal flanges 22a and 23a of two side plates 22 and 23 which extend vertically in parallel planes longitudinally of the housing and which are recessed as shown at 24 to receive the hose 25 and the telescoping sleeve or coupling member 26 which are to be secured together by a surrounding metal strap through the operation of the punch lock forming mechanism which is mounted within the housing 20. A U-shaped supporting rod 27 has its ends secured in the base flange 20a on the rear side of the housing and a plate 28 is carried on the horizontal portion of this rod to provide a support for the hose 25 when it is placed in the operating position shown in Fig. 1. The upright body portions of the side plates Hand 23 are closed at their ends by the end plates 29.

The side plate 22 is formed integrally with and forms a part of a frame structure in which most of the movable parts of the mechanism are mounted. Before placing the hose 25 and the enclosed coupling sleeve 26 in the position shown in Fig. 1 within the opening 24, a coil of the metal strap 33 is formed with one end 33a of the strap reversely bent around the inner wall of a tubular seal 34 and, in the embodiment illustrated, two convolutions of the strap are arranged within the seal with a free end portion 33b of substantial length projecting therefrom. This strap and seal assembly is then placed over the end of the hose 25 on the outside of the metal tube 26 and these parts are then placed in the opening 24 of the machine with the hose 25 resting upon the shelf 28. When thus placed in the opening 24 the coil of metal strap 33 rests upon a stationary saddle block 35 which is secured by a pin 36 to the frarne 30. This saddle block has a curved surface 35a which conforms to the curvature of the coil 33 and the strap, hose and tube are adapted to be held in position resting upon the member 35 by the operation of a clamping shoe 37 having a curved surface 37a which conforms to the curvature of and is adapted to engage the outer surface of the outer convolution of the metal strap 33. The clamping shoe is mounted to travel horizontally in a guideway 38 formed .in the frame 30 and is normally retracted as shown in Fig. 7. When a joint is to be formed, it is moved toward the position shown in Fig. 9 by the operation of a plunger 39 which travels in a guideway 40 formed in the frame 30.

As shown particularly in Fig. 6, the plunger 39 is pivoted at 41 to a link 42 which is pivoted at the point 43 to another link 44 having a pivotal connection at 45 with a stationary block 46 secured in the end of the guideway 40 by a stud 47 mounted in the adjacent end plate 29. The pivot pin 43 connects the two links 42 and 44 with another link 48 having a pivotal connection at 49 with a piston rod 50 connected to a piston 51 (see Fig. 15) mounted in a cylinder 52 for operation by pneumatic pressure. When the piston 51 is elevated by the introduction of fluid under pressure to the lower end of the cylinder, the toggle connection formed by the links 42 and 44 is actuated to move the clamping shoe 37 from the position shown by full lines in Figs. 6 and 7 to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6 and by full lines in Fig. 9, thus holding the strap 33 and the assembly mounted therein in fixed position against the saddle member 35.

When the parts 33, 25 and 26 are thus held, the parts are in readiness for drawing the strap taut around the hose 25 and the tube 26 by pulling upon the free end 3311 of the strap. For this purpose, the end 33b of the strap is extended downwardly at the right-hand side of the block 35 before the clamping shoe 37 is moved to its gripping position so that when the assembly has been gripped by the shoe 37 the free end 33b of the strap may be engaged by a gripping dog 55 which is pivoted at 56 upon a movable puller block 57 mounted to slide vertically in a guideway 58 formed in the frame 30. The gripping dog 55 has a serrated gripping surface 55a adapted to engage one side of the end 33b of the strap opposite to the face 57a of the puller block so that when the block is pulled downwardly, the gripping dog which is inclined downwardly and toward the left from its pivot 56 toward the surface 57a, grips the strap and pulls it downwardly to tighten it about the hose 25. The gripping dog 55 is normally moved to the gripping position shown in Fig. 9 by a coil spring 59 which engages a recess in the gripping dog and another recess in a block 60 secured to the frame 30.

After the coil of strapping 33 and the enclosed tubular members 25 and 26 have been clamped by the shoe 37, the depending free end 33b of the strap is engaged by a holding dog 62 which is pivoted at 63 on the block 35. This holding dog- 62 is normally actuated by a coil spring 64 mounted in a recessin the side of the dog and in another recess formed in a block 65 secured to the frame 30 so that the surface 62a of the dog above its pivot is moved into engagement with the strap end 33b to hold it against the vertical flat face of the block 35. The holding dog 62 is provided at its upper end with a projecting nose 62b which is adapted to engage the lower edge of the seal 34 when the seal and the strap coil 33 are first brought into position with the strap resting upon the saddle mem ber 35. Thus, when tension is subsequently exerted upon the free end 33b of the strap to draw it taut around the house 25, the seal 34 is held by the nose 62b of the holding dog 62 so that its movement is resisted while the strap is being drawn taut.

When the clamping shoe 37 is in its retracted position shown in Fig. 7, the gripping dog 55 and the holding dog 62 are also in their retracted positions shown in that figure with the tail portion 55b of the gripping dog resting against the under inclined face of the block 65 and with the top surface 55c of the gripping dog engaging the tail portion 62c of the holding dog. The springs 59 and 64 are then compressed, as shown in Fig. 7, thus providing a free channel adjacent the upright face of the block 35 and downwardly through the block 57, through which the end portion 33b of the strap may extend. When the puller block 57 is moved downwardly at the commencement of the strap pulling operation, the gripping dog 55 moves away from the block 65 so that the spring 59 may operate to move the gripping dog toward its gripping position and this initial movement of the gripping dog 55 in a'downward direction releases the holding dog 62 so that it is moved by its spring 64 to the holding position shown in Fig. 9. The arrangement is such that the holding dog 62 arrives at a position where its nose 62b occupies a position under the lower edge of the seal 34 just before the gripping dog 55 causes the strap end 33b to be gripped against the surface 57a of the puller block so that the seal 34 is then held in a stationary position while tension is exerted upon the strap end 33b during the subsequent further downward movement of the puller block.

For the purpose of effecting movement of the puller block 57 it is pivotally connected by a pin 67 with a downwardly extending link 68. This link is connected (see Fig. 15) through a pivot pin 69 with a piston rod 70 connected to a piston 71 within a cylinder 72. When fluid is admitted under pressure to the upper end of the cylinder 72 the piston rod 70 is moved downwardly to actuate the puller block 57 and thereby bring about the sequence of operations previously described whereby the strap is drawn taut and the hose is compressed about the metal tube, thus causing the assembly to assume the condition shown in Fig. 13. When fluid under pressure is admittedto the lower end of the cylinder 72, the piston 71 is moved upwardly to restore the puller block 57 and the associated parts to the position shown in Fig. 7.

Immediately after the strap 33 has been drawn taut about the members 25 and26, the seal 34 and the enclosed portions of the strap are deformed by a punch 75 having a cone-shaped sharp projection 75a on its end which penetrates the outer wall of the seal and the adjacent convolutions of the strap within the seal to produce a joint having the form shown particularly in Figs. 3 and '4', the outer wall of the seal being deflected inwardly to form a cone-shaped projection 34a which extends through similar projections and apertures formed in the convolutions of the seal so that the parts interlock with each other to maintain the assembly in the finished form shown in Fig. 14.

The punch 75 is mounted to slide horizontally in a guideway 76 formed in the frame 30 and it is actuated through a link 77 which is pivoted at 78 to the end portion of the punch which is opposite the projection 75a. The link 77 is pivoted at 79 to another link 80 which is pivotally connected at 81 to a block 82 which is held in stationary position in the guideway 76. by a stud. 83

operated in both directions in the cylinder by fluid pres-.

sure. When the piston 88 is moved upwardly the links 77 and 80 are moved upwardly from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 6 to the position shown by dotted lines in that figure, thus moving the punch 75 from the position shown by full lines to the position shown by dotted lines wherein the projection 75a is caused to penetrate the seal and the enclosed portions of the strap. When compressed fluid is admitted to the upper end of the cylinder 87, the piston 88 is retracted to restore the punch 75 to the normal position shown in Fig. 7.

The lower face 75b of the punch adjacent its operating end is located in close proximity to the horizontal plane of the tip of the nose 6212 which is formed upon the holding dog 62 so that when the dog 62 is in the gripping position shown in Fig. 9, the lower surface 75b of the punch passes over the nose 62b of the holding dog to permit the compression of the seal 34 and the enclosed portions of the strap 33 and the eventual deformation of these parts to produce the interlocking joint previously described. As the action proceeds to compress the seal and form the joint, the depending end portion 33b of the strap is bent over the rounded upper edge of the saddle member 35, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and the lower edge of the outer wall of the seal 34 acts as a shearing die to cut off the strap at the edge of the seal, thus completing the finished joint which is shown in Fig. 14.

To insure that the strap is sheared at the edge of the seal,

the seal edge must always be sharper than the rounded upper edge of the saddle member 35. If shearing did occur at the edge of the saddle rather than at the seal, a short sharp length of strap would protrude from the seal and would catch on surrounding objects in addition to being a hazard to the hands of workmen. When the gripping dog 55 reaches the lower end of its travel, it engages a stationary cam 30a on the frame 30 and is automatically moved out of engagement with the cut oif end portion 3312 which is permitted to drop by gravity from the position previously occupied by it, thus making room for a new operation in the formation of another joint.

The fluid pressure system by which the pistons 51, 71 and 88 are operated is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 15 and the associated electric circuit is represented schematically in Fig. 16. The system shown in Fig. 15 is preferably operated by compressed air which is supplied through a pipe line 90 leading from an air compressor or the like. Other forms of fluid pressure, such as hydraulic pressure, may be used. From this line the air flows through a pipe 91 and a manually operated regulating valve 92 to a solenoid operated valve 93 which has two solenoids 93a and 93b and'four ports 93c, 93d, 93c and 93 When the solenoid 93a is energized the valve connects the line 91 through the ports 93c and 93d to the line 94 which leads into the upper end of the cylinder 72, thereby moving the piston 71 downwardly to effeet the tensioning of the strap. At the same time, the compressed air flows from the upper partof the cylinder through the line 95 to the lower end of the cylinder 52, thus moving the piston 51 upwardly and thereby causing the clamping shoe 37 to clamp the hose and strap assembly against the saddle member '35. As the pistons 51 and 71 move, the cylinders 52.and 72 exhaust through the lines 96 and 97 respectively to the port 93e which has then been connected, by the operation of the solenoid 93a, to the port 93 from which the air flows through a line 98 to the muffler 99 by which it is discharged to the atmosphere.

When the tension in the strap 33 reaches the maximum determined by the total air pressure upon the upper side of the piston 71, the piston 71 stalls. Before this point is reached,,the pressure switch 100 which is connected to the line to be actuated at a somewhat lower pressure,

- operates certain contacts in the electric circuit, as hereinafter described, and thereby deeuergizes the solenoid 93a. When this occurs the port 93c remains connected to the port 93d and the port 93:; remains connected to the port 93f so that tension is retained in the strap 33!) and the clamping shoe 37 remains in clamping position in readiness for the shearing operation above referred to.

When the pressure switch is operated to deenergize the solenoid 93a it also operates to energize the solenoids 101a and 101b of the solenoid operated valve 101 so that compressed air then flows from the line 90 through the line 102 and the manually operated regulating valve 103 to port 101c of the valve 101 which is then connected by the solenoids to the port 101d. Compressed air then flows from the port 101d through the line 104 to the lower end of the cylinder 87 so that the piston 88 is then moved upwardly to actuate the punch 75 and cause it to deform the seal and the enclosed strap ends and also to shear oif the end portion 33b of the strap. As the piston 88 moves upwardly, air flows out of the upper end of the cylinder through the line 105 to the port 101e of the valve 101 and it then passes out of the valve through the port 101] to the line 106 by which it is discharged into the muffler 99 and then exhausted to the atmosphere.

Before referring further to the operation of the fluid pressure system, reference will be made to the electric control circuit shown in Fig. 16. This circuit comprises line conductors 110 and 111 leading from a suitable di-, rect current source. As there shown, a foot pedal operated switch 112, shown also in Fig. 1, is located adjacent the housing 20'and, after the work piece assembly has been placed in the cavity 24, this switch is depressed, thereby closing its contacts which energizes a relay 113 and closes the contacts 114 to establish a holding circuit so that the relay 113 remains energized after releasing the foot pedal. The closing of the contacts 114 also energizes the solenoid 93a to cause the operation of the 'clamping and strap tensioning mechanism as described above.

Just before the end of the strap tensioning operation, when a pressure just below the stall pressure is reached, the lower contacts 100a of the pressure switch 100, which have been closed during that operation, are opened, thus deenergizing the relay 113 and opening the contacts 114 so'that the solenoid 93a is also deenergized, without changing the connections between the ports of the valve 93. The work assembly thus remains clamped by the shoe' 37 and the piston 71 maintains tension in the strap 33b.

When the pressure switch 100 is operated to open its lower contacts100a, its upper contacts 10% are at the same time closed, thereby energizing the relay 115 and closing the contacts 116. A holding circuit is thus established around the contacts 10% and the closing of the contacts 116 energizes the solenoids 101a and 10111, thereby establishing connections between the ports 101a and 101d and between the ports 101e and 101i of the valve 101, whereby the piston 88 is actuated to form the interlocking joint between the strap and seal and to shear off the end portion 33b of the strap, as heretofore described. l

At the instant when the strap end 331) is sheared the compressed air is still acting upon the upper face of the piston 71 so that the tensioning mechanism, being released from the previously acting restraining force of the strapv end 33b, moves downwardly still further and a lug 120 on the link 68 (see Figs. 7 and 15 engages the operating member of a limit switch 121, the lower contacts 121b of which are in series with the relay 115. When the switch 121 is thus actuated by the lug 120, the lower contacts 121!) of the switch are opened, thereby deenergizing the relay 115, and the upper contacts 12111 are closed. The deenergization of the relay 115 opens the contacts 116 and causes the solenoids 101a and 101b to be deenergized with the result that the port 1010 of the valve 101 is then connected to the port 101e and the port 101 is connected to the port 101d. The compressed air then flows through the line 105 to the upper end of the cylinder 87 so that the piston 88 is actuated to retract thepunch and shear mechanism.

The closing of the upper contacts 12% of the limit switch 121 completes the circuit of the solenoid 931: which is thereby energized to cause port 930 of the valve 93 to be connected to the port 93c and to cause the port 93 to be connected to the port 93d. Compressed air then flows through the line 96 to the upper end of the cylinder 52 and through the line 97 to the lower end of the cylinder 72, with the result that the clamping mechanism and the tensioning mechanism are both restored to their initial positions. As these operations take place, the air on the upper side of the piston 51 and on the lower side of the piston 71 is exhausted through the lines 96 and 97, respectively, and flows through the valve and the line 98 to the mufiler 99. When the pressure 1n its supply line falls off, the pressure switch 100 also re stores to its initial position. A normally closed manual push button switch 123 is provided in the line 110 so that this line may be opened and the solenoid 93b energized in the event that it is desired at any time to restore the clamping and tensioning mechanisms to their initial positions without awaiting the completion of a cycle.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides mechanism by which the operations of clamping the loop of strap about the telescoping members, drawing the strap taut, punching the strap and seal and shearing off the strap are carried on automatically in rapid timed relation so that the whole operation may be performed almost instantaneously after the work piece assembly has been placed in position within the recess 24. By using the metal seal as a shearing die and utilizing the tension which draws the strap taut for pulling the strap against the edge of the seal and shearing it off as soon as the joint has been formed, a great advantage in speed of operation is obtained as well as the advantage of having a new shearing die for each shearing operation.

Although one form of the improved punch lock forming mechanism has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be constructed in various other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing the extension from a tightened hose clamp of the type described, said apparatus comprising in combination, a casing body adapted for fixed mounting, an immovable extension back-up element fixed to said casing body and tapered for projection between the outer surface of a hose clamp coil and its extension in the direction of its keeper strap, keeper strap stop means attached to said casing body and disposed adjacent to said extension back-up element to define a slot-and-guideway into which the free end of the hose clamp coil extension may be inserted for projection therethrough, movable pulling means carried by said casing body and normally disposed adjacent to the outlet side of said slot-and-guideway for gripping the projecting end of the coil extension and exerting a pulling force thereon, thereby bringing the extension dispensing end of the hose clamp keeper strap into engagement with said keeper strap stop means as the extension is tensioned, and blow dealing means disposed at the inlet side of said slot-and-guideway directed for movement transversely of the direction of projection of said slot-and-guideway past said back-up element with clearance to deliver a hammer blow to the outer face of the coil keeper strap immediately adjacent to its extension dispensing end while held in engagement with said keeper strap stop means under influence of tension applied to the extension, thereby causing a tension failure of said extension transversely along a line of contact with the lower end of'the outer layer of the keeper strap due to the sudden build-up in tension stress in said extension resultant from said hammer blow.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, including yieldable coil back-up means movable to a position for back-up engagement with the hose clamp coil to absorb the effects of the hammer blow applied by said blowdealing means to the coil keeper strap while permitting sufficient freedom of movement thereof relative to the projecting end of said extension back-up element necessary for such build-up in tension stress in said extension to sever same free of the coil.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1, including means disposed in the path of travel of said movable pulling means to be engaged thereby upon separation of the tensioned extension from the hose clamp coil for effecting release of the separated extension and gravity ejection from said pulling means.

4. The combination in apparatus for binding together a plurality of members by means of an encircling looped strap having one end thereof relatively fixed with respect to a metal seal through which the other end of the strap projects, of a frame, a stationary back-up element fixed to said frame and tapered for projection between the outer surface of the looped strap and the projecting end of the strap, said stationary back-up element having an extremity adapted to be disposed closely adjacent one end of said seal and having a back-up surface thereon adapted to underlie the projecting end of the strap adjacent said end of said seal, means on said frame for gripping and pulling said projecting end of the strap in a path across said back-up surface to draw the strap taut around said members, and means mounted on said frame for movement in a path transversely of the plane of said back-up surface and toward the outer face of said seal, said back-up element and said back-up surface thereon being disposed entirely outside said latter pathwith said extremity of said back-up element disposed closely adjacent said latter path, and a face on said last mentioned means for engaging said outer face of said seal during said movement for forcefully displacing said seal laterally of the plane of said back-up surface and laterally of said extremity of said back-up element while said projecting end of the strap is under tension, thereby to cause said projecing end of the strap to be shearedoff by an edge of said seal at said end thereof.

5. The combination in apparatus for binding together a plurality of members by means of an encircling looped strap having one end thereof relatively fixed with respect to a metal seal through which the other end of the strap projects, of a frame, a stationary back-up element fixed to said frame and tapered for projection between the outer surface of the looped strap and the projecting end of the strap, said stationary back-up element having an extremity adapted to be disposed closely adjacent one end of said seal and having a back-up surface thereon adapted to underlie the projecting end of the strap adjacent said end of said seal, means on said frame for gripping and pulling said projecting end of the strap in a path across said back-up surface to draw the strap taut around said members, and punch means mounted on said frame for movement in a path transversely of the plane of said back-up surface and toward the outer face of said seal, said back-up element and said back-up surface thereon being disposed entirely outside said latter path with said extremity of said back-up element disposed closely adjacent said latter path, and surfaces on said punch means for engaging said outer face of said seal during said movement of said punch means for deforming said seal to form an interlocking joint and for substantially simultaneouslyforcefully displacing said seal laterally of' the plane of said back-up surface and laterally of said extremity of saidback-up element while said projecting end of the strap is under tension,'thereby to cause said projecting end of the strap m be sheared off by an edge of said seal at saidend thereof. v

6. The combination in apparatus for binding together a plurality of members by means of an encircling looped strap having one end thereof relatively fixed with respect to a metal seal through which the otherend of the strap projects,'of a'frame, a stationary'back-up element'fixed to said frame and tapered for projection between the outer surface of the looped strap and the projecting end of the strap, said stationary back-up element having an extremity adapted to be disposed closely adjacent one end of said seal and having a back-up surface thereon adapted to underlie the projecting end of the strap adjacent said end of said seal, holding means on said frame for engagingxsaid seal to hold saidseal and said strap against rotation about said members, means on said frame for gripping and pulling said projecting end of the strap in a path across said back-up surface to draw the strap taut around said members, punch means mounted on said frame for movement in a path transversely of the plane of said back-up surface and toward the outer face of said seal, said holding means and said back-up element and said back-up surface thereon being disposed entirely outside said latter path with said extremity of said back-up element disposed closely adjacent said latter path, and surfaces on said punch means for engaging said outer face of said seal during said movement of said punch means for deforming said seal to form an interlocking joint and for substantially simultaneously forcefully displacing said seal laterally of the plane of said back-up surface and laterally of said extremity of said back-up element'while said projecting end of the strap is under tension, thereby to cause said projecting end of the strap to be sheared off by an edge of said seal at said end thereof.

7. The combination in apparatus for forming a joint between a metal seal and enclosed strap portions wherein a strap end projects beyond an edge of the seal, of a frame, an immovable back-up surface adapted to underlie the projecting end of the strap with an extremity of said surface disposed adjacent said edge of said seal, means on said frame for engaging and pulling said projecting end of the strap in a path across said surface to tension said strap portions and said projecting end of said strap, andmeans mounted on said frame for movement in a path transversely of the plane of said back-up surface and toward a face of said seal, said back-up surface being disposed entirely outside said latter path but said latter path extending closely adjacent said extremity of said surface, and a face on said last mentioned means for engaging said face of said seal during said movement for forcefully displacing said seal-laterally of the plane of said back-up surface and laterally of said extremity thereof while said projecting end of the strap is under tension, for causing said projecting end of the strap to be sheared off by said edge of said seal.

8. The combination in apparatus forforming a joint between a metal seal and strap portions enclosed thereby wherein a strap end projects beyond an edge of the seal, of a frame, an immovable back-up surface adapted to underlie the projecting end of the strap with an extremity of said surface disposed adjacent said edge of said seal, means on said frame for engaging and pulling said projecting end of the strap in a path across said surface to tension said strap portions and saidprojecting end of said strap, holding means on said frame for engaging said seal to prevent movement of the same during the tensioning of said strap portions and said projecting end of said strap, punch means mounted on said frame for movement transversely of the plane of said back-up r 10 t a surface and toward a face of said seal, said holding means and said back up surface being disposed entirely outside the path of movement of said punch means but said path extending closely adjacent said extremity of said back-up surface, and surfaces on said punch 111163.118 for engaging said face of said seal during said movement for deforming saidseal to form an interlocking joint and for substantially simultaneously forcefully displacing said seal laterally of the plane of said back-up surface and laterally of said extremity thereof while said projecting end of said strapis, under tension, thereby to cause said projecting end of the strap to be shearedofif by said edge of said seal.

9. The combinationin apparatus for forming a joint between a metal seal and strap portions enclosed thereby wherein a strap end projects beyond an edge of the seal, of a frame, an immovable back-up surface adapted to underlie the projecting end of the strap with an extremity of said surface disposed adjacent said' edge of said seal, means on said frame for engaging and pulling said projecting end of the strap in a path across said surface to tension said strap portions and said projecting end of said strap, holding means on said frame mounted for movement into holding engagement with said seal to prevent movement of said seal during the tensioning of said strap portions and said projecting end of said strap, punch means mounted on said frame for movement transversely of the plane of said back-up surface and toward a face of said seal, said holding means and said back-up surface being disposed entirely outside the path of movement of saidpunch means but said path extending closely adjacent said extremity of said back-up surface, and surfaces on said punch means for engaging said face of said seal during said movement for deforming said seal to form an interlocking joint and for substantially simultaneously forcefully displacing said seal laterally of the plane of said back-up surface and laterally of said extremity thereof while said projecting end of said strap is under tension, thereby to cause said projecting end of the strap to be sheared off by said edge of said seal, and fluid pressure operated means on said frame for actuating said pulling means and said punch means in predetermined timed relation.

10. The combination in apparatus for forming a joint between a metal seal and strap portions enclosed thereby wherein a strap end projects beyond an edge of the seal, of a frame, an immovable back-up surface adapted to underlie the projecting end of the strap with an extremity of said surface disposed adjacent said edge of said seal, means on said frame for engaging and pulling said projecting end of the strap in a path across said surface to tension said strap portions and said projecting end of said strap, holding means on said frame mounted for movement into holding engagement with said seal to prevent movement of said seal during the tensioning of said strap portions and said projecting end of said strap, punch means mounted on said frame for movement transversely of the plane of said back-up surface and toward a face of said seal, said holding means and said back-up surface being disposed entirely outside the path of movement of said punch means but said path extending closely adjacent said extremity of said back-up surface, and surfaces on said punch means for engaging said face of said seal during said movement for deforming said seal to form an interlocking joint and for substantially 'simultaneously forcefully displacing said seal laterally of the plane of said back-up surface and laterally of said extremity thereof while said projecting end of said strap is under tension, thereby to cause said projecting end of the strap to be sheared off by said edge of said seal, fluid pressure operated means on said frame for actuating said pulling means and said punch means in predetermined timed relation, and means including an electric circuit for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure operated means.

11. The combination in apparatus for binding together a plurality of members bymeans of a surrounding strap having one end thereof relatively fixed with respect to a tubular metal seal through which the other end of the strap projects, of'a frame, an immovable saddle mounted on said frame and having a curved surface on which said strap and said members are adapted to seat, clamping means opposed to said curved surface and movably mounted on said frame for holding said members and said strap on said seat with said seal located adjacent a top edge of said surface, said saddle having an upright back-up face extending downwardly from said edge, the projecting end of said strap being adapted to extend downwardly along said face when said members and' said strap are on said seat, means movably mounted on said frame for pulling said projecting end of said strap to tension the same and draw said strap taut around said members, and a punch carried by said frame for movement transversely to the plane of said back-up face and above said top edge of said surface for striking said seal, said saddle being disposed entirely outside the path of movement of said punch but said top edge of said sur-.

face being disposed closely adjacent said path, said punch having a sharp projection thereon for deforming said seal and the enclosed st'r'ap endsto form an interlocking joint therebetween and having a blunt end for displacing said seal laterally of said plane of said back-up surface to cause said projecting end of the strap to be sheared off by the lower edge of said seal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

